Lichtensteinian gothic metal band Elis has decided to call it quits with the recent departure of Simone Christinat (Legenda Aurea) due to "too much stress." The band has seen its share of bad luck with the death of Sabine Dünser in 2006 due to a cerebral haemorrhage on July 8, 2006. After the death the band vowed to carry on and hired Ex-Eyes of Eden original vocalist Sandra Schleret, who joined the band in 2006 and stayed until 2011, having only recorded one album, "Catharsis" in 2009. The band decided to make one last attempt and hired Simone Christinat in 2011. Less than a year later Christinat has departed and the band has called it a day.

The following statement was issued on the band's official website:

We have to inform you that ELIS has passed into history.Simone told us a couple of days ago, that she will leave ELIS immediately due to too much stress.We have decided now to quit the band. Too much things happened during all these years to continue once again.

But on the other side, there were a lot of good and lucky moments in this almost ten years of ELIS. Therefore we want to say thank you for your support, your dedication and your friendship through all these years!

But this will not be the end of our musical careers, some projects are already in the pipeline.You will find more information about these things very soon on this location.

Elis recently announced the departure of vocalist Sandra Schleret. The band has now revealed that the new Elis singer will be Simone Christinat from Schaffhausen, Switzerland. Simone commented on joining the band:

"Dear Elis fans, I am really happy to be announced as the new singer of Elis within these days. I feel honored to be a part of this great band and I'm looking forward to a lot of good moments with Elis. It feels like the beginning of a new chapter in my life and I am excited to get many new experiences as the new Elis singer.

"The first show will be in July. Until then there have a couple of rehearsals to be done. Of course it would be great to meet you ELIS fans soon at one of our upcoming shows. You will find more information about me within the next days on this page. Meanwhile, I send you many hugs."

Leaves' Eyes has issued the following announcement about the upcoming Heilig's Blechle 2011 festival changing venues:

"Because of developments concerning the festival location, the organization had to move the festival. Heilig's Blechle will now take place at the Arena Ludwigsburg!

"Also the festival has some awesome updates: 5 extra bands added to the bill, 2 full day festival, Aftershow Party at the RockFabrik in Ludwigsburg (with all bands). The stage will be double the size! Same ticket price! All previous sold tickets will stay valid for both days!"

Additional details on the festival are available here, and the bill is shaping up as follows:

"It's now a couple of weeks ago, since the announcement of Sandra's departure. We want to take the opportunity, to say a few words about that and give you a quick view to the future of Elis.

"We knew that it wouldn't be easy to go on with Elis after Sabine's death and therefore we needed a strong personality as our new singer. We found this person in Sandra and it felt like we have sought and found each other.

"We played great concerts and tours and we created a brilliant record, 'Catharsis', in which we've put a lot of heart blood and personal feelings. But as time goes by, Sandra's and our interests moved in different directions and it became more and more difficult to find a common denominator. So we weren't very surprised as Sandra told us, that she considers leaving the band. We talked for a long time and came to the conclusion, that it would be the best for all, to part ways.

"Yet again, we had to decide, if we should go on with Elis and how it should look like. We agreed to give it one more try, but with a fresh start. We felt that a cut has to be done, to leave the past behind and move forward into the future.

"We found a great new singer and are writing new songs right now. Our goal is to enter the studio by the end of this year to record a new album. We also are rehearsing regularly, to get ready for the stage as soon as possible. That's it for the moment, more news will follow soon!

"We want to thank Sandra for the good times we had and wish her all the best for her personal and musical future!"

Vocalist Sandra Schleret of Elis has issued the following announcement about parting ways with the band:

"More than 4 years ago I joined Elis as their new singer. Our journey was very special to me, and I think that we found one another at a time when we really needed it the most. I gave my best to honor Sabine's legacy and nevertheless stay true to myself and open a new chapter together with the band. I am sorry to say that we have reached a point where this chapter now comes to an end. We had an amazing and exciting time and the guys really touched my heart. We made a great album in which I've put all of my heart and which means a lot to me. We sat together and talked long about everything, and we concluded that it is better to go separate ways from now on.

"I simply feel the need to devote myself to my own music, my aims and tasks, and the guys can not accompany me on that way because they have their own aims, ideas and expectations. I am sure that it's the right decision, because it is very important to me to dedicate myself to everything I do with full heart and soul. Now that I can not ensure this anymore I think it's only fair to say it freely. Elis will always have my full support and my friendship will guide them on their way. The guys have found a great new singer and so I am leaving with a good feeling, though I am very sad about the end of our time together.

"I dearly want to thank all the Elis fans, who gave me such a warm welcome! I hope we will see each other again! With all my best wishes, Sandra."

Female fronted Gothic act Elis has issued the following announcement about the winner of the band's recent guitar contest:

"Finally, the winner of the big Elis contest got her price! Jennifer Bravin won the Dean Hardtail and received the guitar together with her dad at the Tornado Trend Shop in Amriswil. We wish her a lot of fun with her new guitar!

Female fronted Gothic act Elis has issued the following brief announcement about headlining the H'elles on Stage festival: "We are pleased, to announce, that we will headline the 'H'elles on Stage III' Festival! The Festival takes place on September 4. at the CCO in Villeurbanne, Lyon." You can also check out a video trailer for the festival below.

Gothic metallers Elis have posted a new excerpt online from their upcoming album "Catharsis." The song "Warrior's Tale," which also features Michelle Darkness of End Of Green, can be heard at the band's official MySpace page.

Gothic metallers Elis have announced their drummer Max Naescher will be sitting out their upcoming "Beauty & the Beast" tour due to job related issues. A replacement drummer will be accompanying the band for the tour dates. The tour will also include Leaves' Eyes, Atrocity, Stream of Passion, and Sirenia.

Leaves' Eyes will be embarking on the "Beauty and the Beast" tour in November alongside Atrocity, Elis, Stream of Passion, and Sirenia. Leaves' Eyes issued the following statement about the tour:

"The preparations for the Beauty and the Beast Tour are in full swing and we all are looking forward to finally start the tour. It will be very exciting for us to perform the vehemence and energy of the new songs from 'Njord' for the very first time. These songs are fun to play and demand full concentration and power from the whole band. Some songs are real beasts according to the title for this tour, haha. Of course there will be well known songs in the set list such as 'Farewell Proud Men' but we also want to focus on the 'Njord' songs. Our premiere for the new show will be in a few days, on the 31.11.2009 in Triora/Italy! ELIS are old friends of us and together with SIRENIA and STREAM OF PASSION, people can expect an opulent spectacle with this tour package. Let the games begin!"

Atrocity also commented on the upcoming tour: "We are all looking forward to this tour, which is a great opportunity to see us performing a pure WERK 80 show. Of course there's dancers and we will be playing songs from both WERK 80 albums! It's a real pity that Alla cannot be with us and we all wish her the best to recover as soon as possible! We also gonna meet many friends on this very interesting, international Festival package! How often do you have the opportunity to watch LEAVES' EYES, ATROCITY, SIRENIA, ELIS and STREAM OF PASSION live on stage in one single night? So don't miss this BEAUTY & THE BEAST festival, see you on tour hopefully soon!"

Gothic metallers Elis have posted a new excerpt online from their upcoming album "Catharsis." The song "Firefly," along with the previously uploaded excerpt of "I Come Undone," can be heard at the band's official MySpace page.

Gothic metallers Elis have posted an excerpt online from their upcoming album "Catharsis." The track "I Come Undone," which is a cover of a 1987 Jennifer Rush song, can be heard at the band's official MySpace page.

Leaves' Eyes has issued the following update about a venue change at the Leipzig stop of their "Beauty and the Beast" tour:

"Attention, there’s a small change regarding the venue in Leipzig, the new location is HELLRAISER! So here’s the billing and venues once again: BEAUTY & THE BEAST Festival Tour 2009. Special guests: ATROCITY (Werk 80 Show), SIRENIA, ELIS, STREAM OF PASSION."

Rock the Nation announces the first run of the new festival tour series called Beauty and the Beast Festival, featuring Leaves' Eyes, Atrocity, Sirenia, Elis and Stream of Passion. Tour dates are as follows:

Napalm Records has issued the following update about Elis completing the recording of their latest album:

"Gothic Metal band Elis have finished recording their upcoming album “Catharsis”. It will be the first full length studio effort with their new vocalist Sandra Schleret. To ease the anticipatory wait, Elis have produced a video clip to “Show me way”. The clip includes live and exclusive backstage footage. "Catharsis" is tentatively scheduled for a summer 2009 release."

German goth metal band Elis has issued the following year end update about the status of the band and their upcoming new album:

"The time has come and another year goes by!We want to thank all of you for your support. This year, we didn't play much live, because we wanted to focus us on our new record as much as possible. It will be the first full length album with Sandra and beside that, 'CATHARSIS' will be more diversified and more metal then every ELIS-record before. We cant wait to unleash 'CATHARSIS'. Till then, there will be some time left and so we wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year!"

Goth metal band ELIS is back in the studio, recording the follow up to their 2006 full length "Griefshire." Their new singer Sandra Schleret will take care of the vocal duties and drummer Max has already recorded some new tracks of the album.

Sandra replaces former lead singer, Sabine Dünser, who suffered a cerebral hemorrhage on July 7, 2006 during rehearsal and passed away the following day in hospital. The band's last album, "Griefshire" was completed before Dünser's death, which mean the upcoming effort will be the first Elis album featuring Sandra on vocals.

LEAVES' EYES have been confirmed to be the headliner of the Metal Female Voices Fest V, which is due to take place on October 20th, 2007 at Oktoberhallen in Wieze, Belgium. According to the band the theme of their show will be "En Saga i Belgia", and it will be filmed for release on their forthcoming DVD.

DORO has now been confirmed to headline the festival pre-show on October 19th, also at the Oktoberhallen in Wieze, Belgium. Other acts scheduled to perform on the night include HOLY MOSES, DARZAMAT and DYLATH-LEEN